Bicycle-saddle



No. 617,!40, Patented Jan. 3, {89'19L T. E. BECK. BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1897.`=

WITNESSES:

ATTORN EY 5.

THE Nonms vzrsns co.. #Novo-LITRO.. wAsHmGToN, D c. ,-w:

No. 6|7,|40. Patented lan. 3, |899.

T. E. BECK.

BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Application filed Apr. 22. 1897 (N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR fc.- ww.

Mm 1MM,...

No. 6|7,|40` Patented lan. 3, i899.

T. E. BECK.

BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Application fxled Apr. 22, 1S97.\

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WlTNESSES 1 f 7 INVENTR:

/Q/f Y n #72 BY mm F65 J/M. l

ATTORNEYS.

'mi Nonms PETERS co.. PHO-muws.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

FFTCFJ@ 4BIOYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part' of Letters :Patent No. 617,140, datedJanuary 8, 1899.

Application filed April 22, 1897. Serial No. 633,212. (No model.)

To M w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE E. BECK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, Essex county, State of New Jersey, have invented newand useful Improvements in Velocipede-Saddles, of which the followingdescription, taken in connection with the drawings herewithaccompanying, is a specification.

My present invention has for its principal object to provide avelocipede-saddle of cheap and simple construction that will afford thegreatest ease and comfort to the rider by yielding at all desired pointsunder the riders movements and at the same time be su iiiciently rigidas a whole to afford that firm support which is desirable for fast orlong-distance riding. This object I secure by means of the constructionand arrangement of parts embodying my invention, as hereinafter setforth in detail, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of asaddle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig.2 is a cross-section taken through line @c of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is across-section through line fr' of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of thesaddle. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a bottom and top plan of thesaddle in a slightly-modified form, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionthrough line to of Fig. 6.

To explain in detail, a indicates the spring, which according to myinvention forms the frame upon which the seat portion of the saddle issecured. This spring a is bent or doubled, as at a', at the pommel ofthe saddle and is formed with two upper limbs, which substantiallyconform to the outline of the seat by extending from the pommel inopposite ogee curves backwardly and laterally, as at a" a", to form aforward concavity and a rearward conveXity at the opposite sides of thesaddle and so give to the latter the desired form at the pommel andcantle ends of the same. At the cantle the said upper portions or limbsof the spring are each bent downward to form one or more elastic coilsl) l) at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the saddle andbelow the rear` or seat portion of the' latter to provide for thedesired vertical elasticity at such point. Af-

ter forming the coils b b the opposite limbs of the spring extendforward again toward the pommel,such portions b b of the spring beingformed to extend approximately parallel with each other for theengagement therewith of the usual saddle-post clamp and in sideelevation being curved, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit a change in theinclination of the saddle. At the pommel the upper and lower portions ofthe spring are secured together by suitable clamping or fastening means.

. The means for clamping or securing together the upper and lowerportions of the spring, as herein illustrated and as more clearly shownin Fig. 2, is as follows: A threaded nut d is fitted into the .eyeformed by the loop a' in the spring a and is adapted to receive one endof a clamping-screw e. On the under side of the free ends of the springand engaging therewith is a clamping* plate g, which is perforated toreceive and be engaged by the opposite end of the clampingscrew e.Located between the loop a and the free ends of the spring is a plate f,which is longitudinally grooved in its under side to receive the saidfree ends of the spring and provided with an opening for the freepassage of the screw e. By this construction it will be obvious that bytightening the clamping-screw e the clamp parts will coact to hold theupper and lower portions or limbs of the spring at the pommel securelyin position. The lower clampingplate g, as herewith shown, is formedwith an upwardly-turned edge hat the front and opposite sides thereof,adapted to cover and protect the ends of the spring and the plate f andgive a inished appearance to the pommel. Any suitable means other thanthe construction shown and described for securing together the upper andlower portions of the saddle-spring may, however, be employed withoutdeparture from my invention.

The seat portion of the saddle, as herein illustrated, is formed andattached upon the spring or frame ct in a manner as follows: Two piecesor flaps of leather or other suitable material having lthe generaloutline of the desired saddle-seat are irst stamped out, one of which(represented at n) is placed upon the upper limbs of the spring a as asupport IOO for the padded portions of the seat, to be hereinafterdescribed, and the other ap (represented at o) is placed over the underside of the said upper limbs of the spring and secured to the upper flapit to inclose the said limbs therebetween by lines of stitching 7a 7o',extending at opposite sides of the limbs, as clearly shown in thedrawings. The lower iiap o is formed of iiexible material, so that itmay closely embrace the limbs of the spring where stitched to the upperiiap 1t, as shown in Fig. 3, and so secure a more firm and colnpactconnection between the parts. This lower flap o only incloses the upperlimbs of the spring and is therefore provided with slits 7a 7a therein,as shown in Fig. 2, through which the opposite upper limbs pass at thecantle, where they extend downward to form the coils b I), which latterportion of the spring and the lower limbs thereof lie below and outsideof the iiap o, as shown.

The padded portion of the seat, next to be described, is formed of twoflaps ij, which are adapted to contain therebetween the cushions m m andbe stitched or otherwise secured at their outer edge to the edge of thelower iiap o. In the construction illustrated the upper flap t' ispressed or otherwise formed with two recesses in its under side and atopposite sides of the longitudinal center of the saddle, which areadaptedto receive the cushions m m and form the raised portions q q ofthe seat, with acentral groove or space p extending between the same.

The cushions m m, which may be formed of felt or other suitablematerial, are held in place within the recesses in the upper iiap i bythe lower one j, which pieces are secured together by lines of stitchingextending around the cushions where the two pieces come together, as atr in Figs. 1 and 3.

The two pairs of iiaps or pieces n o and t' j, one having the upperlimbs of the spring therebetween and the other having the two pads orcushions inclosed, are then sewed together at their edges, as indicatedat s, at or near the outer edges of the saddle. By thisconstruction-'t'. e. the spring being partially inclosed by the seatportion and secured in permanent connection therewith-the saddlepractically consists of but one piece and so avoids possibility of loss,breakage, or, displacement of any parts, the advantage of which will beobvious. Further, the arrangement of the spring as described, with theelastic coils beneath the cantle or seat portion of the saddle and bothupper and lower limbs the saddle and so avoids possibility of any hardor unyielding surface being presented to the body or limbs of the rider.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, it will be obviousthat the same may be more or less materially modified. For instance,referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, I have shown the saddle with one of theflaps dispensed with.

l/Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a velocipede-saddle, the combination, with a suitable seat, of aspring or frame, the upper portion of which has two limbs independent ofeach other at the cantle and conforming to the outline of the seat andsupporting the same, and the lower portion of which extends down fromthe cantle for engagement by a clamp or support, and then extends upwardat the front end for attachment at the pommel to the upper portion ofthe spring, the spring intermediate of the upper and lower portionsbeing bent to form one or more horizontal elastic coils in a positionbeneath the opposite seat-forming portions of the Saddle, and meansuniting the Lipper and lower limbs at the pommel independent of theseat.

2. In a velocipede-saddle, a spring or frame, the upper portion of whichhas two limbs independent of each other at the cantle and conforming tothe outline of the seat and supporting the same, and the lower portionof which is bent down from the cantle for engagement by a clamp orsupport, and then bent upward at the front end for attachment at thepommel to the upper portion of the spring, the spring intermediate ofthe upper and lower portions being bent to form one or more elasticcoils, combined with a seat having a iiap resting on said limbs and alower flap below said limbs secured to the iirstmen tioned flap toinclose the limbs and support and hold the same from lateral movementrell ative to each other.

3. In a velocipede-saddle, the combination, with a suitable seat, of aspring bent at its middle to form an eye, having an upper portioncomprising two limbs bent to conform to the outline of the seat andsupporting the same, and a lower portion bent down from the -cantle forengagement by a clamp or support and then bent upward at the front endto the pommel, and a clamp having a bolt passing through said eye andsecuring together the upper and lower portions of the spring at thepommel.

4.. In avelocipede-saddle, aspring or frame, the upper portion of whichhas two limbs independent of each other at the cantle and conforming tothe outline of the seat and sup porting the same, and the lower portionof which is bent down from the cantle at opposite sides of thelongitudinal center of the saddle for engagement by a clamp or support,and then extended forward for attachment at the ICO IIO

IZO

pommel to the upper portion of the spring, In testimony that I claim theforegoing I combined with a seat having a Hap extending have hereuntoset my hand this 5th day of across both of said limbs and resting on theApril, 1897.

same, and :L lower ap below said limbs sel Tl-IEODORE E.. BECK. 5 curedto the first-mentioned flap to inclose Witnesses:

the limbs and support the same and hold them CHARLES H. PELL,

from lateral movement relative to each other. C. B. PITNEY.

